Benedict Cumberbatch’s Popularity Almost Cost Him Doctor Strange Role

When Benedict Cumberbatch was cast as Marvel’s Doctor Strange, millions of fans sang out in praise in what felt like a perfect casting move from the House of Ideas. Some even put it on par with Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as Tony Stark. Sure there were a bunch of other names thrown into the mix, like Joaquin Phoenix, Ethan Hawke, Matthew McConaughey, Ewan McGregor, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Oscar Isaac. But given some recent comments from Marvel Studios President, Kevin Feige, Cumberbatch was something they were trying to make happen for quite some time.

Here’s what Feige had to say when asked by EW about the process:

“He was someone that we were very interested in for a very long time,” says Feige, talking on the London set of Doctor Strange. “[But] he kept getting more and more popular! [Laughs] Which is not [essential] for us. Chris Pratt was not popular when we cast him in Guardians. That’s not a prerequisite needed for us casting [someone]. But he kept getting more popular, and more popular, and he kept getting busier, and busier, and it looked like the timing wasn’t going to work.” So we looked at some other actors for a while and ultimately decided, ‘We have to try and make it work with Benedict and with his schedule.’ Which is why we shifted the production schedule around. He finished Hamlet here in London, and I think had a day off, and then went to Kathmandu, Nepal, to shoot the first day of Doctor Strange.”

So what do you think ComicBook.com readers? Are you excited to see what Cumberbatch will bring to the role of the Sorcerer Supreme? Let us know in the comments below!